Chapter 3
Martha explains to Clark what has gone on in his absence. He is devastated about Chloe's death. "If I had been here I might have been able to save her." Clark whispers to his mother. He realizes that almost 3 months have passed since he left. "What about Lionel? Is he still in jail?" Clark asks his mother.
"No, you should not blame yourself, how could you have known what Lionel was planning. I know if you could have you would have done everything for Chloe. Yes, Lionel is still in jail." Martha comforts him as best she can. 'Carrying the world on his shoulders like Atlas.' "I don't know if you want to hear more, but Lionel tried to kill Lex as well, he is doing better. A woman named Janine has been in contact with me. She seems very nice. I asked her not to bring Lex around us, after what happened before. And when you are ready? I need to know where you have been. Jonathan could tell me anything when I found him. Have you been to the farm? Did you see the burned pasture? Do you know what it means? I'm sorry I haven't had any answers. I even contacted Dr. Swann to help me."
"I will answer all of your questions in time. I just need some." Clark answers with his voice trailing off. He sees Lana talking to someone. "Do you know who that is?" He turns to his mother. Clark does not trust everything he sees and doesn't want to leave his parents to find Dr. Swann and to see if he has any answers.
"No, I have not seen him before." Martha senses the worry in her son.
"Clark and Martha, This is Terrence West. I met him when I was visiting Lex at the hospital. He owns a private security company. He'd like to help. He already knows about most it. Janine is a friend of his." Lana could feel Clark's eyes turning daggers before her.
"I am sure that you want nothing to do with Lex Luthor. I can understand that. I also see you can take care of yourself. I'd like to help with taking care of your parents if you will let me." Terrence knows that look. He has dealt with angry young men before. "I want to help as does Janine. I know that something happened between you and Lex. Janine told me." He continues.
"I don't want anyone around my family, but those I know." Clark stands up and he finds that he is the same height as Terrence. 'I know I can take him, but not here.' "Please tell your friends, Thank you, but we will be fine." Clark walks away with his mother, only to see the same man he first saw at the farm. "Go stay with dad, please."
"Why?" Martha sees the other man and feels a chill. Clark looks at her, he is pleading with his eyes for her to go away for now. She goes towards her husband's room and waits outside the door. Afraid to let Clark get out of sight again.
"Who are you?'" Clark demands. "And what are you doing here?"
"Like I said before, I am a friend." The man answers.
"I don't believe you or trust you." Clark answers. He wished that they weren't all these people around. He could take care of this and scare the man off and away from his parents.
"I was afraid it would come to this." The man pulls out his cell and dials a number. "Why do you ask him if I am a friend or not." Clark holds the phone up to his ear and hears a familiar voice.
"Hello Kal-El, you must be refusing my friend's assistance at this time." Dr Swann says. Clark turns and walks away. His mother is now more worried.
"I prefer that you don't use that name. Especially this way." Clark snaps
"No one can monitor this call. I received your mother's request for help. I wish I could have come myself, but you understand. I am glad you are okay. You have met my friend. He has been trying to find you and who has been supplying information to Lionel. Use caution. I can describe him. He is 6' and brown on brown with a scar on his face, where his lip was spilt open your family will be safe, you have my word." Dr Swann finishes. "Also my daughter is coming. I have told none of them your secret. I would not betray you." The doctor hangs up.
"Here." Clark hands the man his phone.
"May I help you, now." He asks
"I don't trust you. I do trust him. We will see." Clark answers
"Clark who was that on the phone?" Martha asks
"I will tell you later, let's see what the doctors have to say about dad." Clark and Martha walk down the hall to his father's room.
The doctors cannot explain it. They are relieved to see Jonathan doing better. "He needs to stay just a few more days. I want to make sure." The doctor leaves.
"Who was that on the phone?" Martha demands
"Dr Swann." Clark answers, "He says he's sorry he couldn't come himself but his friend and his daughter are here to help. I am guessing that Janine is his daughter. She is friends with Lex and that is a concern." He adds, "I don't know what to believe or who? I am just glad that you and dad are here."
"I think I speak for both of us, we are glad you are here." Jonathan says looking at Martha.
"Completely glad." Martha takes his hand and holds out her other for Clark to take.
"We will figure out the rest together." Jonathan adds. "We're going to get through this."
"Mom, what about Chloe, where is she, was she buried, I don't even know what to ask." Clark sits down in dismay. Lana is walking and hears Clark asking about Chloe.
"There wasn't much left. Nell helped me and we had them cremated. I thought of a place she would want to be, and it's only place I could think of the 'Daily Planet' building. That would be breaking the law." Lana answers
"She would want to be there for sure." Clark smiles. 'Lana does know Chloe very well.'
"Clark, its not my place, I do think you should reconsider Terrence's offer." Lana adds "No! And don't bring it up again." Clark snaps. Lana looks frightened, then she realizes what he is angry about. "Lex was just saying 'good-bye' Clark. That's all. I'm sorry it hurt you, but you didn't show up, I had to get a ride from the shuttle."
"Yeah, I had some business I needed to take care of, I am angry at Lex about something else." Clark turns cold.
"Okay." Lana 'I know you are lying, why can't you stop and tell me the truth.' "I will leave. I am glad you are feeling better, Mr. Kent." Lana walks out
"What was that?" Jonathan asks 'This isn't my son, he would intentionally hurt those he loves.' "I'm waiting, Clark.'
"She'll only get hurt the closer she is to me. Don't you agree?" Clark looks up at his dad. 'You got in Jor-El's way and almost died because of it'
"You didn't have to be so cold." Martha chimes in and shakes her head.
"She wouldn't leave otherwise. I love her and I have always been in love with her. I don't want what is happening to dad to possible happen to her." Clark answers 'There I said, maybe now they will understand.'
Both his parents realize he has grown up even more and much better than they hoped. "I made a choice son. It was my decision." Jonathan just wanted to be clear.
A week has passed. Martha and Clark bring Jonathan home. "This place has seen better days." He says looking at his farm. "I have a lot of work ahead of me, I hope you're up to it too, son." He turns to Clark.
"You are to rest, doctor's and wife's orders." Martha adds.
"Don't worry dad, I have it back in shape in no time." Clark I'd rather be working than answering questions right now. Clark comforts himself with idea of work. He isn't ready to even think about what happened with Jor-El.
"Clark" his mother voices snaps him back "could you carry in the groceries and supplies for me?"
"Sure, Take dad inside, I'll be right there." Clark answers and gathers his thoughts and the bags. I'll start with the burned pasture. I can plow it up and turn it over, give the ground a chance to recover.
Later that night Martha awakens to the sound of the tractor. She gets up to see what I going on. She sees her son plowing under that burned ground and sighs. She makes some tea and waits for him to finish. No sense in trying to stop him, maybe it will help. Clark comes in and finds Martha waiting for him at the kitchen table.
"What are you doing running the tractor at 3 am. Is helping at all? Are you ready to talk to me?" Martha waits.
"No, mom. I'm not ready to talk." Clark answers and goes up to shower. He lies on his bed and finally drifts to sleep.
"Hello, my son. I'm sorry we haven't got much time to talk." It's a soft female voice and the warmth he has felt before comes back.
"What?" he tries to shake the sleep out of his head. "Who are you? Wait I think I know you." Clark is very groggy.
"Yes, you call me your birth mother. I am Lara." She answers. "Are you glad to be back, home?"
"Yes and No." Clark this is a dream "So many bad things have happened. If I had been here I might have been able to help."
"But you will help, just as there is evil there must be good to balance it. Just trust in that." Lara soothing voice is nothing like Jor-El's Clark thinks.
"He is a monster." Clark says angrily. "He will not listen."
"I know you believe that. It's clear with his actions that he would appear as a monster. Please know I love you and I love him. I will find out what is going on. Trust in that and your parents' love. " Lara calming him.
"Neither of you are my parents." Clark says with pain.
"I did mean the Kents, Kal-El, sorry, Clark please tell your parents ' thank you' for me. They have done a wonderful job. I could only wish to do what they do everyday. I miss you still and I will be with you always."
"Thank you for sending me back. He is going to be angry." Clark voices concern.
"Let me deal with Jor-El, I am his wife after all." Lara says, "You're welcome. Be good my son." Clark drifts back to sleep. Clark wakes up and thinks he should tell his parents what happened, at least about Lara.
"Morning Sleepyhead." Jonathan say sitting at the kitchen counter.
"Morning Clark." His mother kisses his forehead.
"Mom. I'm 18." Clark teases and smiles. She missed doing that and I missed it, too
"Its good to see that again. I was afraid you had forgotten how to smile." Jonathan musses up Clark's hair. "Dad, not you too." Clark adds.
"I have something to tell you, please don't ask for more, I'm just not ready." Clark looks at both and they sigh.
"Okay." They both agree.
"Lara, she wants me to thank you for the wonderful job you have done raising me." Clark gives them a minute before finishing. "She is the one who sent me back here. Jor-El may be angry when he finds out." Please no questions. Just give me time.
"We will deal with that together." Jonathan answers. He takes his son's shoulder. "That's what a family does."
"How about breakfast? I kept a plate warm for you and I made blueberry muffins." Martha asks and sees that he needs more time. Thank you, Lara she mouths as she gets the warmed plate out for Clark.
Martha explains to Clark what has gone on in his absence. He is devastated about Chloe's death. "If I had been here I might have been able to save her." Clark whispers to his mother. He realizes that almost 3 months have passed since he left. "What about Lionel? Is he still in jail?" Clark asks his mother.
"No, you should not blame yourself, how could you have known what Lionel was planning. I know if you could have you would have done everything for Chloe. Yes, Lionel is still in jail." Martha comforts him as best she can. 'Carrying the world on his shoulders like Atlas.' "I don't know if you want to hear more, but Lionel tried to kill Lex as well, he is doing better. A woman named Janine has been in contact with me. She seems very nice. I asked her not to bring Lex around us, after what happened before. And when you are ready? I need to know where you have been. Jonathan could tell me anything when I found him. Have you been to the farm? Did you see the burned pasture? Do you know what it means? I'm sorry I haven't had any answers. I even contacted Dr. Swann to help me."
"I will answer all of your questions in time. I just need some." Clark answers with his voice trailing off. He sees Lana talking to someone. "Do you know who that is?" He turns to his mother. Clark does not trust everything he sees and doesn't want to leave his parents to find Dr. Swann and to see if he has any answers.
"No, I have not seen him before." Martha senses the worry in her son.
"Clark and Martha, This is Terrence West. I met him when I was visiting Lex at the hospital. He owns a private security company. He'd like to help. He already knows about most it. Janine is a friend of his." Lana could feel Clark's eyes turning daggers before her.
"I am sure that you want nothing to do with Lex Luthor. I can understand that. I also see you can take care of yourself. I'd like to help with taking care of your parents if you will let me." Terrence knows that look. He has dealt with angry young men before. "I want to help as does Janine. I know that something happened between you and Lex. Janine told me." He continues.
"I don't want anyone around my family, but those I know." Clark stands up and he finds that he is the same height as Terrence. 'I know I can take him, but not here.' "Please tell your friends, Thank you, but we will be fine." Clark walks away with his mother, only to see the same man he first saw at the farm. "Go stay with dad, please."
"Why?" Martha sees the other man and feels a chill. Clark looks at her, he is pleading with his eyes for her to go away for now. She goes towards her husband's room and waits outside the door. Afraid to let Clark get out of sight again.
"Who are you?'" Clark demands. "And what are you doing here?"
"Like I said before, I am a friend." The man answers.
"I don't believe you or trust you." Clark answers. He wished that they weren't all these people around. He could take care of this and scare the man off and away from his parents.
"I was afraid it would come to this." The man pulls out his cell and dials a number. "Why do you ask him if I am a friend or not." Clark holds the phone up to his ear and hears a familiar voice.
"Hello Kal-El, you must be refusing my friend's assistance at this time." Dr Swann says. Clark turns and walks away. His mother is now more worried.
"I prefer that you don't use that name. Especially this way." Clark snaps
"No one can monitor this call. I received your mother's request for help. I wish I could have come myself, but you understand. I am glad you are okay. You have met my friend. He has been trying to find you and who has been supplying information to Lionel. Use caution. I can describe him. He is 6' and brown on brown with a scar on his face, where his lip was spilt open your family will be safe, you have my word." Dr Swann finishes. "Also my daughter is coming. I have told none of them your secret. I would not betray you." The doctor hangs up.
"Here." Clark hands the man his phone.
"May I help you, now." He asks
"I don't trust you. I do trust him. We will see." Clark answers
"Clark who was that on the phone?" Martha asks
"I will tell you later, let's see what the doctors have to say about dad." Clark and Martha walk down the hall to his father's room.
The doctors cannot explain it. They are relieved to see Jonathan doing better. "He needs to stay just a few more days. I want to make sure." The doctor leaves.
"Who was that on the phone?" Martha demands
"Dr Swann." Clark answers, "He says he's sorry he couldn't come himself but his friend and his daughter are here to help. I am guessing that Janine is his daughter. She is friends with Lex and that is a concern." He adds, "I don't know what to believe or who? I am just glad that you and dad are here."
"I think I speak for both of us, we are glad you are here." Jonathan says looking at Martha.
"Completely glad." Martha takes his hand and holds out her other for Clark to take.
"We will figure out the rest together." Jonathan adds. "We're going to get through this."
"Mom, what about Chloe, where is she, was she buried, I don't even know what to ask." Clark sits down in dismay. Lana is walking and hears Clark asking about Chloe.
"There wasn't much left. Nell helped me and we had them cremated. I thought of a place she would want to be, and it's only place I could think of the 'Daily Planet' building. That would be breaking the law." Lana answers
"She would want to be there for sure." Clark smiles. 'Lana does know Chloe very well.'
"Clark, its not my place, I do think you should reconsider Terrence's offer." Lana adds "No! And don't bring it up again." Clark snaps. Lana looks frightened, then she realizes what he is angry about. "Lex was just saying 'good-bye' Clark. That's all. I'm sorry it hurt you, but you didn't show up, I had to get a ride from the shuttle."
"Yeah, I had some business I needed to take care of, I am angry at Lex about something else." Clark turns cold.
"Okay." Lana 'I know you are lying, why can't you stop and tell me the truth.' "I will leave. I am glad you are feeling better, Mr. Kent." Lana walks out
"What was that?" Jonathan asks 'This isn't my son, he would intentionally hurt those he loves.' "I'm waiting, Clark.'
"She'll only get hurt the closer she is to me. Don't you agree?" Clark looks up at his dad. 'You got in Jor-El's way and almost died because of it'
"You didn't have to be so cold." Martha chimes in and shakes her head.
"She wouldn't leave otherwise. I love her and I have always been in love with her. I don't want what is happening to dad to possible happen to her." Clark answers 'There I said, maybe now they will understand.'
Both his parents realize he has grown up even more and much better than they hoped. "I made a choice son. It was my decision." Jonathan just wanted to be clear.
A week has passed. Martha and Clark bring Jonathan home. "This place has seen better days." He says looking at his farm. "I have a lot of work ahead of me, I hope you're up to it too, son." He turns to Clark.
"You are to rest, doctor's and wife's orders." Martha adds.
"Don't worry dad, I have it back in shape in no time." Clark I'd rather be working than answering questions right now. Clark comforts himself with idea of work. He isn't ready to even think about what happened with Jor-El.
"Clark" his mother voices snaps him back "could you carry in the groceries and supplies for me?"
"Sure, Take dad inside, I'll be right there." Clark answers and gathers his thoughts and the bags. I'll start with the burned pasture. I can plow it up and turn it over, give the ground a chance to recover.
Later that night Martha awakens to the sound of the tractor. She gets up to see what I going on. She sees her son plowing under that burned ground and sighs. She makes some tea and waits for him to finish. No sense in trying to stop him, maybe it will help. Clark comes in and finds Martha waiting for him at the kitchen table.
"What are you doing running the tractor at 3 am. Is helping at all? Are you ready to talk to me?" Martha waits.
"No, mom. I'm not ready to talk." Clark answers and goes up to shower. He lies on his bed and finally drifts to sleep.
"Hello, my son. I'm sorry we haven't got much time to talk." It's a soft female voice and the warmth he has felt before comes back.
"What?" he tries to shake the sleep out of his head. "Who are you? Wait I think I know you." Clark is very groggy.
"Yes, you call me your birth mother. I am Lara." She answers. "Are you glad to be back, home?"
"Yes and No." Clark this is a dream "So many bad things have happened. If I had been here I might have been able to help."
"But you will help, just as there is evil there must be good to balance it. Just trust in that." Lara soothing voice is nothing like Jor-El's Clark thinks.
"He is a monster." Clark says angrily. "He will not listen."
"I know you believe that. It's clear with his actions that he would appear as a monster. Please know I love you and I love him. I will find out what is going on. Trust in that and your parents' love. " Lara calming him.
"Neither of you are my parents." Clark says with pain.
"I did mean the Kents, Kal-El, sorry, Clark please tell your parents ' thank you' for me. They have done a wonderful job. I could only wish to do what they do everyday. I miss you still and I will be with you always."
"Thank you for sending me back. He is going to be angry." Clark voices concern.
"Let me deal with Jor-El, I am his wife after all." Lara says, "You're welcome. Be good my son." Clark drifts back to sleep. Clark wakes up and thinks he should tell his parents what happened, at least about Lara.
"Morning Sleepyhead." Jonathan say sitting at the kitchen counter.
"Morning Clark." His mother kisses his forehead.
"Mom. I'm 18." Clark teases and smiles. She missed doing that and I missed it, too
"Its good to see that again. I was afraid you had forgotten how to smile." Jonathan musses up Clark's hair. "Dad, not you too." Clark adds.
"I have something to tell you, please don't ask for more, I'm just not ready." Clark looks at both and they sigh.
"Okay." They both agree.
"Lara, she wants me to thank you for the wonderful job you have done raising me." Clark gives them a minute before finishing. "She is the one who sent me back here. Jor-El may be angry when he finds out." Please no questions. Just give me time.
"We will deal with that together." Jonathan answers. He takes his son's shoulder. "That's what a family does."
"How about breakfast? I kept a plate warm for you and I made blueberry muffins." Martha asks and sees that he needs more time. Thank you, Lara she mouths as she gets the warmed plate out for Clark.